Hi Everybody,
I need your advice. I will be driving to Italy this Friday (20.07.12), and need to choose the best route. I have 2 options:
1) Via Mont-Blanc tunnel, but forecast for Fridays 20.07 is bad: http://208.106.135.157/v3.0/gb/indexgb.asp
2) Via Grand Saint Bernard tunnel, but they do not publish any forecasts.
Did anybody drive via Grand Saint Bernard tunnel? How is it ? Or it is better to wait 1-2 hours at Mont-Blanc tunnel?
Thank you
Rustem
We've gone through the St. Bernard a few times and never had issues with weather or traffic queues.
We even went over the pass once (it said it was open), but when we got to the top, the Italian side was closed .
Nice drive too, you drop down into the Val D'Aoste on the Italian side.
Thank you for your reply. I will take Saint Bernard tunnel.
We always take the St Bernard of course because MB would be longer from Lausanne. But I used to drive it quite often in all kinds of weather and never had a problem. No once did I find traffic to be a problem nor the driving conditions.
(Don't ask me about the Gottard!!! That's a freaking nightmare.)
St Bernard is great - fabulous drive either side. But if you have time, why not avoid the tunnel and go over the top- at this time of year you will see marmots everywhere, fantastic views, and the wild flowers are amazing. Could then spend one night in one of the Aosta villages on other side (like in Etroubles) then onwards.
I see you've been using the pass then (bypassing the St Bernard Tunnel).
How long was it? Was it much longer than the tunnel? How about the turns, is that horribly vomiting long?
Thanks
I went through the tunnel to Aosta and came back over the pass. I am used to mountain driving as I live in a ski resort south of Thonon, so the height did not bother me, and the views are stupendous.
Mont Blanc would be closer for me, but I hate driving through long tunnels, so I have avoided it so far.
The weather has been excellent here all week, so I can't see any great problems in that regard, and the worst of the French holiday exodus might be over.
Bon voyage!
Hi Everybody,
just to let you know that I drove via Saint Bernard tunnel to and from Italy and I dont regret. It was absolutely no problem with trafic, even on 20.07.12, which had very bad forecast for Mont Blanc tunnel. Next time I go to Italy i definetely will use the same route.
Thank you all for advice !
Rustem
It's true. I've never run into any traffic there even when they were doing road works. But shhhhh. Don't tell anyone! It's our secret!!!
Hi, could anyone give me the website to check for traffic forecast. I'll be traveling on the weekend of 28 March and I think there will be a lot of people go to Italy for vacation that weekend. Thank you.
Don't bother checking, the roads will be full. ( English link not available) and ALWAYS avoid Milan if possible!
French: http://www.tcs.ch/fr/auto-mobilite/i...previsions.php
German: http://www.tcs.ch/de/auto-mobilitaet.../prognosen.php
Italian: http://www.tcs.ch/it/auto-mobilita/i...i-traffico.php
Take the St Bernhard tunnel, it is about CHF 38 return, and well worth every centime !
The pass route over the top of St Bernhard is still closed during the winter months, you can check on Swiss TV teletext.
Yeah, better check opening/closing times of St. Bernard pass before going. Regardless of weather, they close it 1.10. if I remember correctly. Went through around 5.11., fabulous blue sky weather, rather warm for 2500m (around +12 I would say), no snow anywhere and everything OK. BUT - on italian side, AFTER 500m vertical drop there was a bar locked. So I had to turn & drive back & pay for a tunnel. And it was more like 46 chf return if I remember correctly.
We just went over Simplon Pass two weeks ago and it was fantastic. No traffic (that might be different end of March), road was spotless and views were stunning.